Automatic pool cleaner with flexible scrubbing panel
First Claim
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1. An automatic pool cleaner comprising:
- a housing having a bottom, an outer surface and an interior;
at least two wheels connected to the housing and supporting the housing for rolling movement on a support surface with said bottom facing the support surface;
a propulsion system in said interior configured to move the pool cleaner along the support surface;
a suction inlet; and
a scrubbing panel connected to said housing,wherein said scrubbing panel comprises at least one flexible panel extending across said housing and partially blocking the flow of water to said suction inlet, and a resilient stiffener connected to said at least one flexible panel and configured to bias a planar portion of said at least one flexible panel against the support surface when the at least two wheels support the housing on the support surface.
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Abstract
An automatic pool cleaner includes a housing having a bottom, an outer surface and an interior, at least two wheels connected to the housing and supporting the housing for rolling movement on a support surface with the bottom facing the support surface, a propulsion system in the interior configured to move the pool cleaner along the support surface, a suction inlet, and a scrubbing panel connected to the housing. The scrubbing panel includes at least one flexible panel and a resilient stiffener connected to the flexible panel that is configured to bias a planar portion of the flexible panel against the support surface when the wheels support the housing on the support surface.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An automatic pool cleaner comprising:
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a housing having a bottom, an outer surface and an interior; at least two wheels connected to the housing and supporting the housing for rolling movement on a support surface with said bottom facing the support surface; a propulsion system in said interior configured to move the pool cleaner along the support surface; a suction inlet; and a scrubbing panel connected to said housing, wherein said scrubbing panel comprises at least one flexible panel extending across said housing and partially blocking the flow of water to said suction inlet, and a resilient stiffener connected to said at least one flexible panel and configured to bias a planar portion of said at least one flexible panel against the support surface when the at least two wheels support the housing on the support surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An automatic pool cleaner comprising:
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a housing having a bottom, an outer surface and an interior; at least two wheels connected to the housing and supporting the housing for rolling movement on a support surface with said bottom facing the support surface; a propulsion system in said interior configured to move the pool cleaner along the support surface; a suction inlet; and means for scrubbing the support surface, said means for scrubbing extending across the width of said housing and partially blocking water flow to said suction inlet, being connected to said housing and having a planar face configured to contact the support surface when the at least two wheels support the housing on the support surface. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An automatic pool cleaner comprising:
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a housing having a bottom, an outer surface and an interior; at least two wheels connected to the housing and supporting the housing for rolling movement on a support surface with said bottom facing the support surface; a propulsion system in said interior configured to move the pool cleaner along the support surface; a suction inlet; a scrubbing panel comprising first and second non-metallic, overlapping sheets of open non-woven fibers and a resilient stiffener mounted between said first and second sheets for biasing a first portion of said scrubbing panel against the support surface; and a holder connecting said scrubbing panel to said housing, said holder comprising a channel portion receiving a first edge of said scrubbing panel and a portion of said resilient stiffener and a flange connected to said channel and mounted on said housing outer wall; wherein said scrubbing panel is configured such that, when said wheels support the housing on the support surface, a second portion of the scrubbing panel extends across a gap between the housing and the support surface and at least partially blocks water flow through said gap to the suction inlet and the first portion of the scrubbing panel overlies a portion of the support surface adjacent to the pool cleaner.
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Specification