Pool skimmer screens

• US 5,935,450 A
• Filed: 12/04/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Benedict
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Benedict
• Inventors: Benedict, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Jay H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRINCE JR, FREDDIE GARY
• Application Number:
  US08/985,054
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 210/169, 210/232, 210/416.2, 210/499, 210/460, 210/477, 210/154, 210/776, 210/473
• US Class Current: 210/776
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1272 Skimmers integrated in the pool wall

Abstract

Screens for protecting the intake openings of pool skimmer systems which include a body portion having front and opposite side walls. Retention flanges extend from the body rearwardly relative to the front wall of the size to extend within the intake openings for retaining the screens within the intake openings. In some embodiments the screens may include top and/or bottom sections or an optional outwardly extending debris receiving tray.

Claims

1. A device for preventing floating debris from entering an intake opening associated with a skimmer system of a pool, wherein the intake opening is provided in a side wall of a pool and is defined by opposing side walls and upper and lower walls, the device comprising,

a screen means having a porous body including an upper edge, a lower edge and spaced side edges, said body being configured such that when said side edges are in engagement against the side wall of a pool said body extends outwardly from the side wall of the pool in covering relationship to the intake opening, at least one mounting flange element extending rearwardly from said body, said at least one mounting flange element being of a size to be cooperatively received within the intake opening to thereby support said body relative thereto with said lower edge of said body adapted to extend below the lower wall of the intake opening, whereby debris floating on water in the pool is prevented from entering the skimmer intake opening.

2. The device of claim 1 including a pair of spaced mounting flange elements and said mounting flange elements being spaced intermediate said upper and lower edges of said body.

3. The device of claim 2 in which each of said spaced mounting flange elements includes a hook portion.

4. The device of claim 1 including a pair of spaced mounting flanges, said mounting flanges being configured so as to be adapted to frictionally engage the upper and lower walls of the intake opening.

5. The device of claim 1 including a pair of spaced mounting flanges, said mounting flanges being configured so as to be adapted to frictionally engage the side walls of the skimmer opening.

6. The device of claim 1 including a pair of spaced mounting flanges, each of said mounting flanges including a hook portion adapted to engage a rod mounted within the intake opening.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the body includes opposing sides and a front wall, a top extending between said opposing side and front wall thereof.

8. The device of claim 1 in which said body is generally U-shaped in configuration having a front wall and opposing side walls.

9. The device of claim 8 including means for pivotally connecting said side walls to said front wall.

10. The device of claim 8 including a bottom wall mounted between said side walls and said front wall.

11. The device of claim 1 further including tray means extending outwardly adjacent said lower edges of said body for collecting debris suspended within the water of a pool.

12. A device for preventing floating debris from entering an intake opening associated with a skimmer system of a pool, wherein the intake opening is provided in a side wall of a pool and defined by opposing side walls and upper and lower walls, the device comprising,

a screen means having a porous body including an upper edge, a lower edge and spaced side edges, said body being of a size to be positioned in engagement against the side wall of a pool in covering relationship to an intake opening, mounting flange means extending rearwardly from said body, said mounting flange means being of a size to be received within the intake opening to thereby support said body relative thereto with said lower edge of said body adapted to extend below the lower wall of the intake opening, whereby debris floating on water in the pool is prevented from entering the skimmer intake openings.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said mounting flange means includes at least two spaced flanges of a size and configuration to frictionally retain said body within the intake opening.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein said mounting flange means includes at least two spaced flanges having hooked portions for engaging a rod mounted within the intake opening.

15. A method for preventing floating debris from entering an intake opening associated with a skimmer system of a pool, wherein the intake opening is provided in a side wall of a pool and is defined by opposing side walls and upper and lower walls, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a porous material device through which water can flow and from which extends extension elements of a size to be insertable within the intake opening of the pool;

b) inserting the extension elements within the intake opening of the pool so as to frictionally engage within the intake opening to thereby retain the device outwardly of the intake opening.

16. The method of claim 15, including additional steps of:

a) periodically removing the extension elements of the device from the intake opening by pulling the device outwardly relative to the intake opening;

b) removing debris from the device; and

c) reinserting the extension elements of the device into the intake openings so as to frictionally retain the device outwardly of the intake opening.

17. A method for preventing flowing debris from entering an intake opening associated with a skimmer system of a pool, wherein the intake opening is provided in a side wall of a pool and is defined by opposing side walls and upper and lower walls and wherein a rod is provided within the intake opening, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a porous material device through which water can flow and from which extends extension elements of a size to be insertable within the intake opening of the pool;

b) inserting the extension elements within the intake opening of the pool so as to be engaged by and be retained by the rod to thereby support the device relative to the intake opening.

18. The method of claim 17, including additional steps of:

a) periodically removing the device relative to the intake opening by lifting the extensive elements free of the rod and pulling the device outwardly relative to the intake opening;

b) removing debris from the device; and

c) reinserting the extension elements of the device into the intake openings so as to be retained by the rod within the intake opening.