Pool cleaner baseplate with inlet extension members and recessed wheels

• US 20100058546A1
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aqua Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Erlich, Giora
• Granted Patent: US 8,505,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/1.700
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

A baseplate for a robotic self-propelled pool cleaner having one or more inlet openings through which water-borne debris passes prior to filtration is provided with downwardly depending inlet extension members having walls that define an opening corresponding in shape to the baseplate inlet opening and that are mounted in close-fitting relation to extend the water intake opening towards, but without touching, the pool surface to increase the suction force at the surface. The baseplate optionally includes a rotatable wheel mounted in an inboard recess in the baseplate on, or adjacent to the longitudinal centerline of the cleaner to facilitate passage over obstacles that would immobilize the pool cleaner by contact with an inlet extension member.

Claims

1. An inlet extension member that is removably mountable on the exterior surface of a baseplate of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner, the baseplate having at least one inlet opening for admitting debris-laden water during operation, the extension member comprising walls that define an opening corresponding in size and shape to the at least one inlet opening, the walls terminating in a rim portion that extends below the baseplate towards, but without touching the pool surface over which the pool cleaner moves in normal operation.

2. The inlet extension member of claim 1 in which the rim surface is curved inwardly from the outside surface of the wall towards the opening.

3. The inlet extension member of claim 1 which includes a plurality of mounting brackets adapted to engage the baseplate to thereby removably secure the extension member to the baseplate in snap-fit relation.

4. The inlet extension member of claim 1 which is comprised of a plurality of interlocking stackable elements, whereby the depth of the extension member is changed by adding or removing one or more elements.

5. The inlet extension member of claim 1 in which the walls comprise a plurality of close-fitting telescoping elements that are adjustably extensible.

6. The inlet extension member of claim 1 which includes adhesive mounting means having an adhesive surface covered by a removable protective web.

7. A baseplate for a robotic self-propelled pool cleaner having a planar exterior surface and at least one inlet opening through which water-borne debris passes prior to filtration and a separate inlet extension member removably secured in close-fitting relation to the baseplate at each of the at least one inlet openings, each extension member having walls that define an opening corresponding in shape to the baseplate inlet opening and terminating in a rim portion that extends below the exterior surface of the baseplate towards, but without touching the pool surface over which the pool cleaner moves during operation.

8. The baseplate of claim 7 in which each inlet extension member includes mounting means that engage the periphery of the inlet opening to secure the extension member to the baseplate.

9. The baseplate of claim 7 having two inlet openings spaced apart along the central longitudinal axis of the baseplate and offset on either side of said axis.

10. The baseplate of claim 7 in which each inlet extension member is of the same depth.

11. The baseplate of claim 7, wherein the bottom surface is fitted with at least two interchangeable inlet extension members.

12. The baseplate of claim 7 that includes at least one wheel mounted for rotation in a recess in the baseplate positioned adjacent to each of the at least one inlet opening and displaced inwardly towards the longitudinal centerline of the baseplate.

13. The baseplate of claim 12, wherein an outer end portion of the at least one inlet opening extends transversely from a position proximate one lateral edge of the baseplate and terminates with an interior end portion that is on, or adjacent to the central longitudinal axis of the baseplate and the wheel recess is positioned between the interior end portion of the opening and the opposite lateral edge of the baseplate.

14. The baseplate of claim 12 in which two wheels are mounted for rotation in the same or separate adjacent recesses.

15. The baseplate of claim 12 in which the wheel is removably secured for rotation in its recess.

16. A kit for improving the cleaning efficiency of a pool cleaner having inlet openings in a baseplate through which water-borne debris is drawn, the kit comprising a plurality of inlet extension members having walls defining openings that correspond in shape to the inlet openings and configured for secure mounting on the surface of the baseplate, the walls terminating in a rim portion that extends below the baseplate, but without touching the pool surface, whereby the intake for water and debris is moved closer to the surface to be cleaned.

17. The kit of claim 16, wherein each inlet extension member is provided with mounting means selected from mechanical fasteners, adhesives, and releasable snap-fit members that are integrally formed with the extension member.

18. A baseplate replacement kit for a robotic self-propelled pool cleaner comprising a baseplate having one or more inlet openings and at least two sets of interchangeable extension members of different depths that include attachment means for removably securing each of the extension members to the periphery of each of the one or more inlet openings in the baseplate to thereby reduce the effective distance between the surface of the pool being cleaned and the inlet opening, the baseplate further including at least one integrally formed recess containing a rotatably-mounted wheel that extends below the surface of the baseplate.

19. The baseplate replacement kit of claim 18 that includes a plurality of wheels of different diameters for mounting in each of the at least one recess.

20. A plastic baseplate for a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner, the baseplate being formed from a polymeric material and having at least one inlet opening that includes a downwardly depending inlet extension member that is integrally formed with the baseplate.