Pool skimming apparatus

• US 5,173,181 A
• Filed: 06/21/1990
• Issued: 12/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Skimz-It USA Co.
• Original Assignee: Greg Mcfarland
• Inventors: McFarland, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Hruskoci, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): POPOVICS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US07/541,597
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 210/169, 210/473, 210/236, 210/238, 210/249, 210/470, 15/1.7, 4/490, 248/214, 248/231.4, 43/7, 43/10
• US Class Current: 210/167.19
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/27 Filter bags
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1254 Arm-mounted debris traps or flow diverters
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1609 Hand-held strainers, non-powered brushes or scrubbers

Abstract

Apparatus for removing floating debris from the surface of a pool of liquid disposed in a container comprising a bracket adapted to be fastened adjacent a wall of the container and having an arm extending interiorly over the pool of liquid, the arm being adjustable horizontally and further comprising a vertically extending member directed perpendicularly with respect to the surface of the pool of liquid for receiving a strainer member, the strainer member comprising a net through which the liquid flows during circulation of the liquid. Preferably, the strainer member has a shaft receivable in the vertically extending member and the vertically extending member comprises a hollow cylinder having an interior diameter and at least two circumferentially disposed holes therein spaced apart, the shaft of the strainer member being receivable within the interior diameter of the hollow cylinder and having two spring loaded projections receivable in the holes in the cylinder for securing the strainer member thereto. The vertically extending member is adjustably disposed with respect to the surface of the pool such that the net will receive debris floating on the surface of the liquid as the liquid circulates in the pool. The strainer member is a conventional net normally utilized with a long pole for manual pool skimming, but which can be detached from the pole and attached to the bracket so as to be used to remove floating debris passively.

Claims

1. Apparatus for removing floating debris from the surface of a pool of liquid disposed in a container comprising:

a bracket constructed and arranged to be fastened adjacent a wall of the container and having an arm extending interiorly over the pool of liquid, said arm being adjustable horizontally and further comprising a vertically extending member directed perpendicularly with respect to the surface of the pool of liquid releasably holding strainer member, the strainer member comprising a net through which the liquid flows during circulation of the liquid, the strainer member and the vertically extending member having mating coupling member releasably coupling the vertically extending member and the strainer member together, said vertically extending member being adjustably disposed with respect to the arm such that the net will receive debris floating on the surface of the liquid as the liquid circulates in the pool, said mating coupling members comprising mating quick disconnect means on the vertically extending member and the strainer member such that said strainer member having said quick disconnect means can be removed from said bracket when straining has been completed, so that the strainer member can be removed from the container of liquid and used releasably secured with said quick disconnect means to a pole having corresponding coupling means for use in manual straining of said pool of liquid.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein one of the coupling members comprise a hollow cylinder having an interior diameter and at least two circumferentially disposed holes therein spaced apart and the other coupling member comprises a shaft, the shaft being receivable within the interior diameter of the hollow cylinder and having at least two spring loaded projections receivable in the holes in the hollow cylinder for securing the strainer member to the vertically extending member.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein the hollow cylinder is disposed on the vertically extending member and the shaft is disposed on the strainer member.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein said two holes are spaced apart 180°

.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 4, wherein said hollow cylinder has four holes disposed 90°

apart around the circumference of the cylinder for receiving the two spring loaded projections of the shaft.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said arm extending interiorly is fastened to said vertically extending member such that said vertically extending member can be adjusted vertically with respect to said arm.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 6, wherein said arm comprises an L-shaped member having a vertically extending leg extending toward the pool of liquid to which said vertically extending member is attached.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein said vertically extending member is adjustably receivable in an opening directed toward the pool of liquid in said vertically extending leg of said L-shaped member.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 6, wherein said arm extending interiorly is horizontally adjustable.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein said arm extending interiorly comprises first and second sections adjustable horizontally with respect to each other.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 9, further comprising means for fastening said arm adjacent said pool surface.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 11, wherein said fastening means comprises hook and loop fastening strips disposed on said arm and on a surface adjacent said pool.

13. The apparatus recited in claim 6, wherein said arm extending interiorly is horizontally adjustable.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein said arm extending interiorly comprises first and second sections adjustable horizontally with respect to each other.

15. The apparatus recited in claim 13, further comprising means for fastening said arm adjacent said pool surface.

16. The apparatus recited in claim 15, wherein said fastening means comprises hook and loop fastening strips disposed on said arm and on a surface adjacent said pool.

17. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said arm extending interiorly is flexible such that said arm can be bent so as to adjust the vertical and horizontal position of said strainer member.

18. Apparatus for removing floating debris from the surface of a pool of liquid disposed in a container comprising:

a bracket constructed and arranged to be fastened adjacent a wall of the container and having an arm extending interiorly over the pool of liquid, said arm being adjustable horizontally and further comprising a vertically extending member directed perpendicularly with respect to the surface of the pool of liquid releasably holding a strainer member, the strainer member comprising a net through which the liquid flows during circulation of the liquid, the strainer member having a shaft receivable in the vertically extending member, the vertically extending member comprising a hollow cylinder having an interior diameter and at least two circumferentially disposed holes therein spaced apart, the shaft of the strainer member being releasably connected within the interior diameter of the hollow cylinder and having two spring loaded projections receivable in the holes in the hollow cylinder for securing the strainer member thereto, said vertically extending member being adjustably disposed with respect to the arm such that the net will receive debris floating on the surface of the liquid as the liquid circulates in the pool, the circumferentially spaced holes on the cylinder and the projections on the shaft comprising mating quick disconnect means such that said strainer member having said quick disconnect means can be removed from said bracket when straining has been completed, so that the strainer member can be removed from the container of liquid and used releasably secured with said quick disconnect means to a pole having corresponding coupling means for use in manual straining of said pool of liquid.

19. The apparatus recited in claim 18, wherein said arm extending interiorly is fastened to said vertically extending member such that said vertically extending member can be adjusted vertically with respect to said arm.

20. The apparatus recited in claim 19, wherein said arm comprises an L-shaped member having a vertically extending leg extending toward the pool of liquid to which said vertically extending member is attached.

21. The apparatus recited in claim 20, wherein said vertically extending member is adjustable receivable in an opening directed toward the pool of liquid in said vertically extending leg of said L-shaped member.

22. The apparatus recited in claim 18, wherein said arm extending interiorly is flexible such that said arm can be bent so as to adjust the vertical and horizontal position of said strainer member.

23. The apparatus recited in claim 18, wherein said two holes are spaced apart 180°

.

24. The apparatus recited in claim 23, wherein said hollow cylinder member has four holes disposed 90°

apart around the circumference of the cylinder for receiving the two spring load projections of the shaft of the net.

25. A bracket constructed and arranged for receiving a strainer member for removing floating debris from the surface of a pool of liquid disposed in a container comprising:

an arm constructed and arranged to be fastened adjacent a wall of the container and extending interiorly over the pool of liquid, said arm being adjustable horizontally and further comprising a vertically extending member directed perpendicularly with respect to the surface of the pool of liquid constructed and arranged to receive the strainer member through which the liquid will flow during circulation of the liquid, the vertically extending member and the strainer member having mating coupling members for releasably coupling the vertically extending member to the strainer member, said vertically extending member being adjustably disposed with respect to the arm such that the strainer member will receive debris floating on the surface of the liquid as the liquid circulates in the pool, said mating coupling means comprising quick disconnect means on the vertically extending member and the strainer member, such that said strainer member having said quick disconnect means can be removed from said arm when straining has been completed, so that the strainer member can be removed from the container of liquid and used releasably secured with said quick disconnect means to a pole having corresponding coupling means for use in manual straining of said pool of liquid.

26. The bracket recited in claim 25, wherein one of the coupling members comprises a hollow cylinder having an interior diameter and at least two circumferentially disposed holes therein spaced apart and the other coupling member is receivable within the interior diameter of the hollow cylinder and has two spring loaded projections receivable in the holes in the hollow cylinder for securing the strainer member to the vertically extending member.

27. The bracket recited in claim 26, wherein the hollow cylinder is disposed on the vertically extending member and the shaft is disposed on the strainer member.

28. The bracket recited in claim 25, wherein said arm extending interiorly is fastened to said vertically extending member such that said vertically extending member can be adjusted vertically with respect to said arm.

29. The bracket recited in claim 28, wherein said arm comprises an L-shaped member having a vertically extending leg extending toward the pool of liquid to which said vertically extending member is attached.

30. The bracket recited in claim 29, wherein said vertically extending member is adjustably receivable in an opening directed toward the pool of liquid in said vertically extending leg of said L-shaped member.

31. The bracket recited in claim 28, wherein said arm extending interiorly is horizontally adjustable.

32. The bracket recited in claim 31, wherein said arm extending interiorly comprises first and second sections adjustable horizontally with respect to each other.

33. The bracket recited in claim 31, further comprising means for fastening said arm adjacent said pool surface.

34. The bracket recited in claim 33, wherein said fastening means comprises hook and loop fastening strips disposed on said arm and on a surface adjacent said pool.

35. The bracket recited in claim 25, wherein said two holes are spaced apart 180°

.

36. The bracket recited in claim 35, wherein said hollow cylinder member has four holes disposed 90 apart around the circumference of the cylinder for receiving the two spring load projections of the shaft.

37. A bracket constructed and arranged for receiving a strainer member for removing floating debris from the surface of a pool of liquid disposed in a container comprising:

an arm constructed and arranged to be fastened adjacent a wall of the container and extending interiorly over the pool of liquid, said arm being adjustable horizontally and further comprising a vertically extending member directed perpendicularly with respect to the surface of the pool of liquid constructed and arranged to receive the strainer member through which the liquid will flow during circulation of the liquid, the vertically extending member and the strainer member having mating coupling members for releasably coupling the vertically extending member to the strainer member, said vertically extending member being adjustably disposed with respect to the arm such that the strainer member will receive debris floating on the surface of the liquid as the liquid circulates in the pool, said mating coupling member comprising quick disconnect means on the vertically extending member and the strainer member, such that said strainer member having said quick disconnect means can be removed from said arm when straining has been completed, so that the strainer member can be removed from the container of liquid and used releasably secured with said quick disconnect means to a pole having corresponding coupling means for use in manual straining of said pool of liquid, and further wherein said arm extending interiorly is flexible such that said arm can be bent so as to adjust the vertical and horizontal position of said strainer member.

38. Apparatus for removing floating debris from the surface of a pool of liquid disposed in a container comprising:

a bracket constructed and arranged to be fastened adjacent a wall of the container and having an arm extending interiorly over the pool of liquid, said arm comprising a member having an opening, the opening having an area disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the surface of the pool of liquid, the opening receiving a shaft of a strainer member, the strainer member comprising a net through which the liquid flows during circulation of the liquid, the shaft of the strainer member and the member having the opening comprising mating coupling means for releasably coupling the strainer member to the arm such that the shaft of the strainer member is disposed substantially vertically with the strainer member being disposed in a substantially vertical plane substantially perpendicular to a side of the container, said member having the opening being adjustably disposed with respect to the surface of the pool of liquid such that the net will receive debris floating on the surface of the liquid as the liquid circulates in the pool, said mating coupling means comprising quick disconnect means on the shaft of the strainer member and the member having the opening, such that said strainer member having said quick disconnect means can be removed from said bracket when straining has been completed, so that the strainer member can be removed from the container of liquid and used releasably secured with said quick disconnect means to a pole having corresponding coupling means for use in manual straining of said pool of liquid.

39. The apparatus recited in claim 38, wherein said arm extending interiorly over the pool of liquid is flexible such that said arm can be bent so as to adjust the vertical and horizontal position of said strainer member.

40. A bracket constructed and arranged for receiving a strainer member for removing floating debris from the surface of a pool of liquid disposed in a container comprising:

an arm constructed and arranged adapted to be fastened adjacent a wall of the container and extending interiorly over the pool of liquid, said arm comprising a member having an opening, the opening having an area disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the surface of the pool of liquid, the opening constructed and arranged to receive a shaft of the strainer member, the strainer member comprising a net through which the liquid will flow during circulation of the liquid, the member having the opening having a coupling means constructed and arranged to receive a mating coupling means of the shaft of the strainer member, the coupling means of the shaft being constructed and arranged for releasably coupling the strainer member to the arm such that the shaft of the strainer member may be disposed substantially vertically with the strainer member being disposed in a substantially vertical plane substantially perpendicular to a side of the container, said member having the opening being adjustably disposed with respect to the surface of the pool of liquid such that the net which it is constructed and arranged to receive will receive debris floating on the surface of the liquid as the liquid circulates in the pool, said coupling means on the member having the opening comprising quick disconnect means such that said strainer member having said quick disconnect means constructed and arranged to be received in the member having the opening, so that the strainer member can be removed from said arm when straining has been completed, and used releasably secured with said quick disconnect means to a pole having corresponding coupling means for use in manual straining of said pool of liquid.

41. The bracket recited in claim 40, wherein said arm extending interiorly over the pool of liquid is flexible such that said arm can be bent so as to adjust the vertical and horizontal position of said strainer member.