Pool cleaning method and device

• US 7,118,632 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aqua Vac Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Sumonthee, Jirawat
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/853,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 15/17, 134/6
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

A method and a device for cleaning the bottom and sides of a swimming pool having a housing with front and rear ends and opposite sides, a pair of motor driven cylindrical brushes rotatably secured to the front and rear ends of the housing, a suction pump disposed within the housing, and a floatation element disposed within the housing and secured to one side of the housing.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning the bottom and sides of a swimming pool comprising:

a housing with a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first and second sides extend between the front and rear ends;

a pair of motor driven cylindrical brushes rotatably secured to the front and rear ends of the housing, wherein the cylindrical brushes are positioned parallel to the front and rear ends;

a suction pump disposed within the housing; and

a floatation element disposed within the housing and secured to the first side of the housing above the cylindrical brushes, wherein when the suction pump is disabled, the floatation element creates a floatation differential within the device thereby causing the first side to lift from the bottom of the pool and the device to pivot with respect to the pool bottom, and wherein when the suction pump is operational, a flow of water through the device overcomes the floatation differential, thereby causing the cylindrical brushes to engage with the bottom of the pool.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a remotely located controller in communication with the suction pump.

3. Directional control means for a swimming pool cleaning device having a housing with front and rear ends, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and wherein the first and second sides extend between the front and rear ends, a pair of motor driven cylindrical brushes rotatably secured to the front and rear ends of the housing, wherein the cylindrical brushes are positioned parallel to the front and rear ends for propelling the cleaning device along the bottom of the swimming pool, the directional control means comprising:

a floatation element disposed within the housing and secured to the first side of the housing and above the cylindrical brushes; and

a suction pump disposed within the housing wherein disabling operation of the suction pump allows the floatation element to partially lift one side of the cleaning device from the pool bottom causing the cleaning device to pivot with respect to the pool bottom.

4. The directional control means of claim 3 further comprising a remotely located controller in communication with the suction pump for varying the operation of the suction pump.

5. A method of cleaning the bottom and sides of a swimming pool comprising:

providing a cleaning device having a housing with front and rear ends a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first and second sides extend between the front and rear ends, a pair of motor driven cylindrical brushes rotatably secured to the front and rear ends of the housing, wherein the cylindrical brushes are positioned parallel to the front and rear ends, and a floatation element disposed within the housing and secured to the first side of the housing above the cylindrical brushes;

disabling the suction pump to allow the floatation element to partially lift the first side of the cleaning device from the pool bottom causing the cleaning device to pivot with respect to the pool bottom; and

operating the suction pump to allow the first and second sides of the cleaning device to engage the pool bottom causing the cleaning device to move in a straight line path across the pool bottom.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising providing a remotely located controller in communication with the suction pump for varying the operation of the suction pump.