Pool cleaner caddy with removable wheel assemblies

• US 10,189,490 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Ferrell, Garrett Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Bryan A
• Application Number:
  US15/592,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20180327014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/02 Cylindrically-shaped articles, e.g. drums, barrels, flasks
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/50 Cleaning or gardening articles
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/44 Clamping or supporting circumferentially
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/254 by using roller-shaped wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/33 Wheels provided with protrusions, e.g. anti-slip protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/104 the object being of cylindrical shape, e.g. barrels, buckets, dustbins
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0033 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/06 Hand moving equipment, e.g. handle bars for cycles B62K11/14, B62K21/12
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners that remove debris from water using a plurality of cyclonic flows, or that include a removable impeller subassembly, a check valve for a debris canister, a particle separator assembly having a handle that locks to the pool cleaner, a modular roller drive gear box, or a roller latch that secures a roller to the pool cleaner. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to the check valve and the roller latch themselves. Exemplary embodiments are directed to a filter medium for pool cleaners that includes embossments providing flow channels for water, and to roller assemblies for pool cleaners. Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners including alternative pump motor engagements. Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners power supplies that include a potted and contoured power board assembly, and to kickstands therefor. Exemplary embodiments are directed to a pool cleaner caddy, and removable wheels therefor.

Claims

1. A pool cleaner caddy, comprising:

a base having a first outer mounting boss and a second outer mounting boss, the first outer mounting boss having at least one angled channel and the second outer mounting boss having at least one angled channel;

a first wheel assembly including a first wheel, a first axle having at least one left-handed angled thread, a first axle receiver, and a first screw; and

a second wheel assembly including a second wheel, a second axle having at least one left-handed angled thread, a second axle receiver, and a second screw;

wherein the first axle extends through the first outer mounting boss and the first wheel with the at least one left-handed angled thread engaged with the at least one angled channel of the first outer mounting boss, the first axle receiver is secured to the base and at least partially receives the first axle, and the first screw secures the first axle receiver to the first axle,

wherein the second axle extends through the second outer mounting boss and the second wheel with the at least one left-handed angled thread engaged with the at least one angled channel of the second outer mounting boss, the second axle receiver is secured to the base and at least partially receives the second axle, and the second screw secures the second axle receiver to the second axle.

2. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 1, wherein the first screw extends through the first axle receiver and is threadedly engaged with a distal end of the first axle causing the at least one left-handed angled thread of the first axle to further engage the at least one angled channel of the first outer mounting boss,

wherein the second screw extends through the second axle receiver and is threadedly engaged with a distal end of the second axle causing the at least one left-handed angled thread of the second axle to further engage the at least one angled channel of the second outer mounting boss.

3. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 1, wherein the base includes a first keyed opening having at least one inward extension and the first axle receiver includes at least one radial extension, the first axle receiver being positioned within the first keyed opening with at least one radial extension overlapping the at least one inward extension to further secure the first axle receiver to the base, and

wherein the base includes a second keyed opening having at least one inward extension and the second axle receiver includes at least one radial extension, the second axle receiver being positioned within the second keyed opening with at least one radial extension overlapping the at least one inward extension to further secure the second axle receiver to the base.

4. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 1, wherein the first axle includes a distal end having a notch and the first axle receiver includes a locking assembly, the notch of the first axle receiver locking with the locking assembly of the first axle receiver to secure the first axle to the first axle receiver,

wherein the second axle includes a distal end having a notch and the second axle receiver includes a locking assembly, the notch of the second axle receiver locking with the locking assembly of the second axle receiver to secure the second axle to the second axle receiver.

5. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 4, wherein the locking assemblies include a ramped protrusion, a block protrusion, and an indentation between the ramped protrusion and the block protrusion.

6. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 4, wherein the first and second axle receivers each include an inner chamber and the locking assemblies are positioned within the inner chambers.

7. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises:

a first outer wall having the first outer mounting boss,

a first inner wall,

a first wheel chamber between the first outer wall and the first inner wall,

a second outer wall having the second outer mounting boss,

a second inner wall, and

a second wheel chamber between the second outer wall and the second inner wall; and

the first wheel is positioned within the first wheel chamber, the first axle receiver is secured to the first inner wall, the second wheel is positioned within the second wheel chamber, and the second axle receiver is secured to the second inner wall.

8. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 1 in combination with the pool cleaner.

9. A pool cleaner caddy, comprising:

a base having an outer mounting boss, the outer mounting boss having at least one angled channel; and

at least one wheel assembly including a wheel, an axle having at least one left-handed angled thread, an axle receiver, and a screw;

wherein the axle extends through the outer mounting boss and the wheel with the at least one left-handed angled thread engaged with the at least one angled channel of the outer mounting boss, the axle receiver is secured to the base and at least partially receives the axle, and the screw secures the axle receiver to the axle.

10. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 9, wherein the screw extends through the axle receiver and is threadedly engaged with a distal end of the axle causing the at least one left-handed angled thread of the axle to further engage the at least one angled channel of the outer mounting boss.

11. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 9, wherein the base includes a keyed opening having at least one inward extension and the axle receiver includes at least one radial extension, the axle receiver being positioned within the keyed opening with at least one radial extension overlapping the at least one inward extension to secure the axle receiver to the base.

12. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 9, wherein the axle includes a distal end having a notch and the axle receiver includes a locking assembly, the notch locking with the locking assembly to further secure the axle to the axle receiver.

13. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 12, wherein the locking assembly includes a ramped protrusion, a block protrusion, and an indentation between the ramped protrusion and the block protrusion.

14. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 13, wherein the axle receiver includes an inner chamber and the locking assembly is positioned within the inner chamber.

15. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 9, wherein the base comprises:

an outer wall having the outer mounting boss,

an inner wall, and

a wheel chamber between the outer wall and the inner wall; and

the wheel is positioned within the wheel chamber and the axle receiver is secured to the inner wall.

16. The pool cleaner caddy of claim 9 in combination with the pool cleaner.