Apparatus for facilitating maintenance of a pool cleaning device

• US 8,307,485 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Sumonthee, Jirawat
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/213,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20110302728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 15/17
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

Advantageous apparatus, are provided for facilitating maintenance of a automated pool cleaning device. More particularly, an improved automated pool cleaning device is provided, according to the present disclosure. The device, generally, includes a facially accessible quick-release roller assembly, a bucket-type filter assembly, and a windowed top access lid assembly. The improved roller assembly and filter assembly are easily accessible for maintenance purposes. Furthermore, the windowed lid assembly provides visual feedback as to when the filter assembly needs to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A pool cleaner, comprising:

a housing assembly including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite thereto;

a roller extending from said first side wall to said second side wall in secured relationship with said housing assembly;

a plurality of end joints secured to ends of said roller; and

a plurality of mounts secured to said first and second side walls of said housing assembly, at least one pair of one of said mounts and one of said end joints cooperating to allow rotation of said roller and including a quick-release mechanism for facially accessible detachment thereof.

2. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein said quick-release mechanism comprises a tongue and groove configuration.

3. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein said roller includes a core and an outer disposable brush.

4. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein at least one of said mounts includes an axel for transferring a driving force to said roller.

5. The pool cleaner of claim 4, wherein said axel is in secured arrangement with a wheel assembly for transferring the driving force to said wheel assembly.

6. A pool cleaner, comprising:

a housing assembly with a drive transfer system, said housing assembly including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite thereto; and

a roller assembly powered by said drive transfer system and including (a) a first mount extending along an axis and secured to said first side wall, and a second mount extending along said axis and secured to said second side wall, (b) a roller configured to clean a pool wall and provided with first and second end joints at ends of said roller, and (c) at least one facially-accessible fastener releasably securing at least one of said mounts with at least one of said end joints.

7. The pool cleaner of claim 6, wherein at least one of said end joints includes a lipped protrusion received by said roller.

8. The pool cleaner of claim 6, wherein said roller includes a core receiving at least one of said end joints.

9. The pool cleaner of claim 6, wherein said at least one fastener is radially-extending.

10. The pool cleaner of claim 9, wherein said at least one fastener is unobstructed from release.

11. The pool cleaner of claim 6, wherein each of said at least one fastener is one of a pin, a screw, a rod, and a bolt.

12. The pool cleaner of claim 6, wherein at least one of said end joints includes a first tongue and groove element and a respective one of said mounts includes a second tongue and groove element corresponding with said first tongue and groove element.

13. The pool cleaner of claim 12, wherein said tongue and groove elements receive said at least one fastener to secure said at least one of said end joints with said respective one of said mounts.

14. The pool cleaner of claim 6, wherein said mounts include axels extending along said axis.

15. The pool cleaner of claim 14, wherein said axels are secured to wheel assemblies.

16. The pool cleaner of claim 15, wherein said roller assembly and said wheel assemblies are configured to rotate in cooperation around said axis.

17. The pool cleaner of claim 15, wherein said drive transfer system drives said roller assembly and said wheel assemblies.

18. The pool cleaner of claim 14, wherein said drive transfer system is in mechanical communication with said axels.

19. The pool cleaner of claim 14, wherein said drive transfer system includes at least one bushing assembly receiving at least one of said axels.

20. The pool cleaner of claim 19, wherein said drive transfer system includes at least one drive belt configured to turn said at least one bushing assembly.

21. The pool cleaner of claim 20, wherein said at least one drive belt is configured to be driven by a drive shaft.

22. The pool cleaner of claim 6, wherein a source of power for said drive transfer system is at least one of electrical power and other power.

23. A pool cleaner, comprising:

a housing assembly; and

a roller assembly including (a) a first mount having a first axel extending along an axis through a sidewall of said housing, and a second mount having a second axel extending along said axis through another sidewall of said housing, (b) a roller configured to clean a pool wall and provided with first and second end joints at ends of said roller, and (c) first and second facially-accessible fasteners releasably securing said first and second mounts with said first and second end joints.

24. The pool cleaner of claim 23, wherein said end joints include lipped protrusions, and where said roller includes a core receiving said lipped protrusions.

25. The pool cleaner of claim 23, wherein said housing assembly is provided with a drive transfer system including a bushing assembly positioned proximal one of said sidewalls and driving at least one of said axels.

26. The pool cleaner of claim 25, wherein said drive transfer system includes a drive belt configured to turn said bushing assembly.

27. The pool cleaner of claim 26, further comprising wheel assemblies secured to said axels.

28. The pool cleaner of claim 27, wherein said roller assembly and said wheel assemblies rotate in cooperation around said axis.

29. The pool cleaner of claim 28, wherein a source of power for said drive transfer system is at least one of electrical power and other power.

30. The pool cleaner of claim 23, wherein said end joints each include a first tongue and groove element and a respective one of said mounts each include a second tongue and groove element corresponding with said first tongue and groove element, and wherein said tongue and groove elements receive said fasteners to secure said end joints with said respective one of said mounts.

31. The pool cleaner of claim 30, wherein said fasteners are radially-extending.

32. The pool cleaner of claim 31, wherein said fasteners are unobstructed from release.

33. The pool cleaner of claim 23, comprising a second roller.

34. The pool cleaner of claim 33, comprising wheel assemblies configured to rotate in cooperation with said second roller.

35. A pool cleaner, comprising:

a housing assembly including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite thereto;

a roller assembly including a roller and having a first end secured to said first side wall and a second end secured to said second side wall, said first end of said roller assembly including a mount secured to said first side wall and an end joint secured to an end of said roller; and

a facially-accessible fastener received within a radially-defined slot of said first end of said roller assembly to secure said mount to said end joint.

36. The pool cleaner of claim 35, wherein said end joint includes a lipped protrusion, and where said roller includes a core receiving said lipped protrusion.

37. The pool cleaner of claim 35, wherein said housing assembly is provided with a drive transfer system including a bushing assembly positioned proximal said first sidewall and driving rotation of said mount.

38. The pool cleaner of claim 37, wherein said drive transfer system includes a drive belt configured to turn said bushing assembly.

39. The pool cleaner of claim 38, further comprising a wheel assembly secured to an axel of said mount extending along an axis.

40. The pool cleaner of claim 39, wherein said roller assembly and said wheel assembly rotate in cooperation around said axis.

41. The pool cleaner of claim 37, wherein a source of power for said drive transfer system is at least one of electrical power and other power.

42. The pool cleaner of claim 35, wherein said end joint includes a first tongue and groove element and said mount includes a second tongue and groove element corresponding with said first tongue and groove element, and wherein said tongue and groove elements receive said fastener.

43. The pool cleaner of claim 35, wherein said fastener is unobstructed from release.

44. The pool cleaner of claim 35, wherein said fastener is a screw.

45. The pool cleaner of claim 35, wherein said second end of said roller assembly includes a second mount secured to said second side wall and a second end joint secured to a second end of said roller.

46. The pool cleaner of claim 45, comprising a second facially-accessible fastener received within a radially-defined slot of said second end of said roller assembly to secure said second mount to said second end joint.

47. The pool cleaner of claim 46, wherein said roller extends along an axis.

48. The pool cleaner of claim 47, wherein said mounts include axels extending along said axis.

49. The pool cleaner of claim 48, wherein said axels are secured to wheel assemblies.

50. The pool cleaner of claim 49, wherein said roller assembly and said wheel assemblies are configured to rotate in cooperation around said axis.

51. The pool cleaner of claim 49, wherein a drive transfer system drives said roller assembly and said wheel assemblies.

52. The pool cleaner of claim 46, wherein said second end joint includes a first tongue and groove element and said mount includes a second tongue and groove element corresponding with said first tongue and groove element, and wherein said tongue and groove elements receive said second fastener.