Electric powered automatic swimming pool cleaning system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use with a containment wall having bottom and side portions containing a pool of water having a surface for cleaning the surface of said water and the surface of said wall, said apparatus comprising:
- a unitary body capable of being immersed in said pool water;
an electric power source including a battery;
a level control subsystem responsive to said power source for producing a vertical force to selectively place said body either (1) proximate to said water surface or (2) proximate to said wall surface below said water surface;
at least one pool water inlet in said body; and
a propulsion control subsystem responsive to said power source for selectively moving said body either (1) along a path adjacent to said water surface for collecting pool water through said inlet from adjacent to said water surface or (2) along a path adjacent to said wall surface for collecting pool water through said inlet from adjacent to said wall surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for automatically cleaning swimming pools includes a unitary body having a level control subsystem for selectively moving the body to a position either proximate to the surface of the water pool or proximate to the interior surface of the containment wall, a propulsion subsystem operable to selectively propel the body in either a forward or rearward direction, and a cleaning subsystem operable in either a water surface cleaning mode for skimming or scooping or a wall surface cleaning mode for vacuuming or sweeping. The subsystems are powered by an electric source such as solar cells and/or rechargeable batteries and/or a wire extending to the unitary body from an external power source. An alternative embodiment uses separate top and bottom units tethered together by an electric conduit.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use with a containment wall having bottom and side portions containing a pool of water having a surface for cleaning the surface of said water and the surface of said wall, said apparatus comprising:
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a unitary body capable of being immersed in said pool water;
an electric power source including a battery;
a level control subsystem responsive to said power source for producing a vertical force to selectively place said body either (1) proximate to said water surface or (2) proximate to said wall surface below said water surface;
at least one pool water inlet in said body; and
a propulsion control subsystem responsive to said power source for selectively moving said body either (1) along a path adjacent to said water surface for collecting pool water through said inlet from adjacent to said water surface or (2) along a path adjacent to said wall surface for collecting pool water through said inlet from adjacent to said wall surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
a solar cell carried by said body for recharging said battery.
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3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said battery is rechargeable;
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a docking station for recharging said battery.
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4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including user means for selectively causing said level control subsystem to place said body (1) proximate to said water surface or (2) proximate to said wall surface.
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5. Apparatus for cleaning the surface of a containment wall configured to contain a pool of water having a water surface, said apparatus comprising:
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a unitary body;
a rechargeable electric power source carried by said body configured to allow recharging by a docking station; and
a control system carried by said body and powered by said power source, said control system including;
a propulsion subsystem for selectively moving said body along a path adjacent to said wall surface; and
a docking station mounted proximate to said containment wall for recharging said power source.
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6. Apparatus for use with a containment wall having bottom and side portions containing a pool of water having a water surface, for cleaning the surface of said water and the surface of said wall, said apparatus comprising:
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a first unit configured to travel proximate to said water surface;
a second unit configured to travel proximate to said wall surface;
a power source for supplying electric energy to at least one of said first and second units;
a conduit physically connecting said first and second units for transferring energy therebetween; and
a propulsion subsystem carried by at least one of said first and second units and responsive to electric energy supplied thereto for propelling said first unit along a travel path proximate to said water surface and/or said second unit along a travel path proximate to said wall surface. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
means for removing debris from pool water collected through said first unit inlet.
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9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second unit includes a pool water inlet;
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means for removing debris from pool water collected through said second unit inlet.
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10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said propulsion subsystem includes a motor driven propeller.
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11. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a solar cell carried by said first unit for recharging said battery.
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12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said power source includes at least one battery carried by at least one of said first and second units.
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13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said power source includes a wire connected to an energy source beyond said containment wall.
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14. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said power source comprises a battery;
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a docking station for recharging said battery.
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15. The apparatus of claim 6 further including:
a controller for selectively energizing said first unit and/or said second unit.
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16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said controller is responsive to an event input for controlling the selective energization of said first and second units.
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17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said controller is responsive to a user input for controlling the selective energization of said first and second units.
Specification