Pool skimmer
First Claim
1. A skimmer system attached to a tank having fluid therein, the fluid in the tank defining a tank fluid surface, the system comprising:
- a) a reservoir to receive fluid from the tank, the fluid in the reservoir defining a reservoir fluid surface, the level of the reservoir fluid surface being maintainable below the level of the tank fluid surface;
b) an inlet defining an inlet edge, the inlet being positioned adjacent the tank to transfer the fluid from the tank to the reservoir, the inlet edge being located below the level of the tank fluid surface;
c) an inlet surface disposed between the inlet edge and the reservoir;
d) a reservoir pump connected to the reservoir to transfer fluid from the reservoir to the tank; and
e) a weir defining a weir edge, the weir being maintained substantially gapped above the inlet surface to allow particulate in the fluid to pass under the weir when the reservoir pump is activated and the weir edge is maintained substantially below the level of the tank fluid surface to prevent particulate on the fluid from passing under the weir when the reservoir pump is deactivated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A skimmer system is provided which includes a reservoir, an inlet, a reservoir pump and a weir. The skimmer system may be attached to a tank having fluid therein. The fluid in the tank defines a tank fluid surface, and the fluid in the reservoir defines a reservoir fluid surface. The reservoir receives fluid from the tank via the inlet, and the tank receives fluid from the reservoir via the reservoir pump. When the skimmer system is activated, the level of the reservoir fluid surface may be maintained below the level of the tank fluid surface. The inlet edge is located below the level of the tank fluid surface. The inlet surface may decline away from the tank to direct the fluid from the tank to the reservoir. The filter is positioned between the inlet and the reservoir to retain particulate within the fluid. The weir defines a weir edge. The weir edge may be parallel to and substantially below the level of the tank fluid surface to allow particulate in the fluid to pass under the weir when the reservoir pump is activated and to prevent particulate in the fluid from passing under the weir when the reservoir pump is deactivated. The filter may be serviced through an access opening formed in a fabricated surface above the filter and covered by a cover.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A skimmer system attached to a tank having fluid therein, the fluid in the tank defining a tank fluid surface, the system comprising:
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a) a reservoir to receive fluid from the tank, the fluid in the reservoir defining a reservoir fluid surface, the level of the reservoir fluid surface being maintainable below the level of the tank fluid surface; b) an inlet defining an inlet edge, the inlet being positioned adjacent the tank to transfer the fluid from the tank to the reservoir, the inlet edge being located below the level of the tank fluid surface; c) an inlet surface disposed between the inlet edge and the reservoir; d) a reservoir pump connected to the reservoir to transfer fluid from the reservoir to the tank; and e) a weir defining a weir edge, the weir being maintained substantially gapped above the inlet surface to allow particulate in the fluid to pass under the weir when the reservoir pump is activated and the weir edge is maintained substantially below the level of the tank fluid surface to prevent particulate on the fluid from passing under the weir when the reservoir pump is deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A skimmer system attached to a tank having fluid therein, the fluid in the tank defining a tank fluid surface, the system comprising:
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a) a reservoir to receive fluid from the tank, the fluid in the reservoir defining a reservoir fluid surface, the level of the reservoir fluid surface being maintainable below the level of the tank fluid surface; b) an inlet defining an inlet edge and a fluid transfer rate, the inlet being positioned adjacent the tank to transfer the fluid from the tank to the reservoir; c) a reservoir pump connected to the reservoir to transfer fluid from the reservoir to the tank; d) a filter between the inlet and the reservoir to retain particulate within the fluid; and e) a fluid level regulator which monitors the reservoir fluid surface and controls the reservoir pump to maintain the level of the reservoir fluid surface below the level of the tank fluid surface wherein the fluid level regulator activates the reservoir pump when the level of the reservoir fluid surface is not substantially below the level of the tank fluid surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A skimmer system attached to a tank having fluid therein, the fluid in the tank defining a tank fluid surface, the system comprising:
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a) a reservoir to receive fluid from the tank, the fluid in the reservoir defining a reservoir fluid surface, the level of the reservoir fluid surface being maintainable below the level of the tank fluid surface; b) an inlet defining an inlet edge, the inlet being positioned adjacent the tank to transfer the fluid from the tank to the reservoir, the inlet edge being located below the level of the tank fluid surface; c) a reservoir pump connected to the reservoir to transfer fluid from the reservoir to the tank; and d) a weir defining a weir edge, the weir edge being maintained substantially gapped above the inlet edge to allow particulate in the fluid to pass under the weir and the inlet edge when the reservoir pump is activated and substantially below the level of the tank fluid surface to prevent particulate on the fluid from passing under the weir when the reservoir pump is deactivated.
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20. A skimmer system attached to a tank fillable with fluid supplied by an inlet fluid valve, the fluid in the tank defining a tank fluid surface, the system comprising:
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a) a reservoir to receive fluid from the tank, the fluid in the reservoir defining a reservoir fluid surface, the level of the reservoir fluid surface being maintainable below the level of the tank fluid surface; b) an inlet defining an inlet edge and a fluid transfer rate, the inlet being positioned adjacent the tank to transfer the fluid from the tank to the reservoir; c) a reservoir pump connected to the reservoir to transfer fluid from the reservoir to the tank; d) a filter between the inlet and the reservoir to retain particulate within the fluid; and e) a fluid level regulator which monitors the reservoir fluid surface and controls the inlet fluid valve to maintain fluid in the reservoir to prevent a dry pump situation.
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Specification