Swimming pool cleaner components
First Claim
1. An assembly for permitting fluid flow comprising:
- a. a body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a passage between the inlet and the outlet for fluid to flow herethrough;
b. means, comprising a valve removably positioned within the passage, for periodically interrupting the flow of fluid through the passage;
c. a first tube attached to the valve; and
d. means, received by the outlet and comprising a ring having a canted surface engaging a portion of said first tube and circumscribing a portion of the first tube, for resisting but not precluding movement of the first tube relative to the body.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Adjustable components for swimming pool cleaners or other devices are disclosed. The components, when forming part of a fluid-interruption cleaner, can accommodate a variety of diaphragms (valves) of different lengths. The exterior of the cleaner'"'"'s inner tube, to which the diaphragm is attached, includes a series of spaced, concentric ribs, any selected group of which may be gripped by a cantilever ring positioned between the inner tube and the cleaner body. Because the inner tube may be alternatively positioned relative to the cantilever ring and body, it can accept and accommodate diaphragms of varying lengths. The components also facilitate removal of the diaphragm and inner tube from the cleaner for inspection or, for example, when repair or replacement is desired.
33 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An assembly for permitting fluid flow comprising:
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a. a body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a passage between the inlet and the outlet for fluid to flow herethrough; b. means, comprising a valve removably positioned within the passage, for periodically interrupting the flow of fluid through the passage; c. a first tube attached to the valve; and d. means, received by the outlet and comprising a ring having a canted surface engaging a portion of said first tube and circumscribing a portion of the first tube, for resisting but not precluding movement of the first tube relative to the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An assembly for permitting fluid flow comprising:
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a. a body defining an inlet, a threaded outlet, and a passage between the inlet and the outlet for fluid to flow herethrough; b. means, comprising a valve removably positioned within the passage, for periodically interrupting the flow of fluid through the passage; c. a first tube attached to the valve; d. means, received by the outlet and circumscribing a potion of the first tube, for resisting but not precluding movement of the first tube relative to the body; e. a second tube adapted to circumscribe at least a portion of the first tube; f. means for removably attaching the second tube to the body; and g. a threaded collar connected to the second tube and adapted to engage the threaded outlet of the body. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An assembly for permitting fluid flow comprising:
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a. a body defining an inlet, a threaded outlet, and a passage between the inlet and the outlet for fluid to flow therethrough; b. a diaphragm removably positioned within the passage for periodically interrupting the flow of fluid through the passage, which diaphragm comprises (1) an inlet adapted to abut the inlet of the body, (2) an outlet, and (3) an integrally-formed lug; c. a first tube defining an inlet attached to the outlet of the diaphragm and having an exterior surface comprising a plurality of annular ribs; d. means for attaching the diaphragm and the first tube; e. a compressible ring fitted within the outlet of the body and circumscribing a portion of the first tube that, when compressed, engages at least one of the angular ribs; f. a second tube defining a longitudinal axis and adapted to circumscribe at least a portion of the first tube; and g. a threaded collar connected to the second tube and adapted to engage the threaded outlet of the body, for removably attaching the second tube to the body while permitting the second tube to rotate about the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An assembly for permitting fluid flow comprising:
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a. a body defining an inlet, a threaded outlet, and a passage between the inlet and the outlet for fluid to flow therethrough; b a diaphragm removably positioned within the passage for periodically interrupting the flow of fluid through the passage, which diaphragm comprises (1) an inlet adapted to abut the inlet of the body, (2) an outlet, and (3) an integrally-formed lug; c. a first tube defining an inlet attached to the outlet of the diaphragm and having an exterior surface comprising a plurality of annular ribs; d. means for attaching the diaphragm and the first tube; e. a second tube defining a longitudinal axis and adapted to circumscribe at least a portion of the first tube; f. a compressible ring fitted within the outlet of the body and circumscribing a portion of the first tube that, when compressed, engages at least one of the annular ribs, which compressible ring further has an exterior at least a portion of which is canted approximately 10°
-20°
off the longitudinal axis;g. a threaded collar connected to the second tube, defining a plurality of apertures, and adapted to engage the threaded outlet of the body, for removably attaching the second tube to the body while permitting the second tube to rotate about the longitudinal axis and allowing any selected entrapped debris to exit the assembly; and h. a resilient ring, intermediate the compressible ring and the diaphragm and contacting both when the compressible ring is compressed, for biasing the diaphragm so as to decrease the effective length of the diaphragm by approximately 0.5-1.5 mm.
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Specification